Food support element for removable insertion into a refrigeration compartment having differential temperature zones

ABSTRACT

A food support element, such as a shelf, drawer or the like, for removable insertion into a refrigeration compartment of a refrigerator having differential temperature zones, the temperature in the zone overlying the support element being set and controlled by a known control device provided with setting and control means associated with the element. The support element comprises a body having two spaced-apart opposing flat elements connected together by perimetral securing means, an interspace being present between the surfaces to receive the setting and control means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a food support element, such asa shelf, drawer or the like, for removable insertion into arefrigeration compartment.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] From an earlier filing in the name of the same applicant, arefrigerator is known provided with a compartment having internal zonesat different controlled temperatures. In such a refrigerator, to supportfoods a removable element is used, such as a shelf, a drawer or thelike, which enables the zones to be created within the refrigeratorcompartment. Such an element, which forms the subject of another earlierfiling in the name of the same applicant, comprises a body to bepositioned on supports present on opposing walls of the refrigerationcompartment, setting means being provided, associated with the body ofthe element, which enable the internal temperature of the compartment tobe set and the set temperature information to be transferred to controlmeans for the refrigeration circuit of the refrigerator, the means beingprovided within a structure or cabinet in which the compartment isformed.

[0005] The setting means comprise an electrical circuit arranged togenerate a signal which can be modified on the basis of the settemperature, or of a set temperature range, by modifying at least oneelectrical characteristic of that circuit, the signal being remotelysensed by the control means (without there being any physical connectionbetween these latter and the setting means). The electrical circuit ispreferably a resonant circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to offer a food supportelement provided with the aforesaid setting means which is of simpleconstruction and of low cost.

[0007] A further object is to offer a food support element of the statedtype which is reliable in use.

[0008] These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert ofthe art are attained by an element in accordance with the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanyingdrawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a food supportelement according to the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the element of FIG. 1 shown partlyassembled;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a section similar to that of FIG. 2 showing a differentembodiment of the element of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the part indicated by A in FIG. 4;

[0015]FIG. 6 shows a further different embodiment of the element of FIG.1;

[0016]FIG. 7 shows a further different embodiment of a food supportelement according to the invention; and

[0017]FIG. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] With reference to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3,these show a food support element removably insertable into arefrigeration compartment and represented in the form of a shelf 1. Thisshelf comprises two flat elements 3 and 4, positioned parallel to andspaced apart from each other to form an interspace 5 housing a device(not shown) enabling the temperature to be set for that part of thecompartment overlying the shelf 1 and lying between this latter and theadjacent overlying flat surface (which can be defined by another shelf,by the base of a drawer, or by the top of the refrigerationcompartment). Such a device forms the subject of another filing in thename of the same applicant and has already been described in itsessential parts in the introduction to the present document, and willtherefore not be further described.

[0019] In the figures the flat element 3 overlies the flat element 4.The upper surface of this element acts as the support surface for foodsplaced in the refrigeration compartment for their preservation. Tomaintain the distance between the elements 3 and 4, along at least twoof their opposing edges 3A and 4A there is present at least one spacer 7having a body provided with an intermediate portion 8 which liesspatially perpendicular to the flat elements and to which there areconnected end arms 10 lying parallel to each other and to the elements3, 4. These latter rest on the arms and are thus supported on eachspacer.

[0020] Advantageously each spacer 7 comprises a sidepiece 1 and asidepiece 12, the first facing the interspace 5 and the second facingoutwards from this latter and from the shelf 1. In the sidepiece 12there is provided a recess 13 to house the electrical connectors 14connected to the device in the interior of the shelf, of which acomponent 15 (an antenna) is shown in FIG. 3, the component also beinghoused in the recess 13.

[0021] Each spacer 7 is preferably obtained by extrusion or byco-injection moulding and possibly bent over for their positioningbetween the elements 3 and 4 (in order to form the support arms 10 forthese latter). The elements 3, 4 themselves are preferably formed in oneof the following materials: glass, polycarbonate or the material knownby the commercial name of Perspex (formed of methyl-methacrylate).

[0022] Finally the shelf 1 comprises at least one lateral frame 20 (or aplurality of frames) which covers it along its entire perimeter. Thisframe is of plastic material, preferably obtained by co-injectionmoulding around the elements 3 and 4 by known methods.

[0023] The shelf 1 is hence obtained by arranging the elements 3 and 4on the opposing sides of the spacers 7 and enclosing the entire assemblyby the frame or frames 20. The front frame, or that frame part locatedto the front of the opening in the refrigeration compartment, presentsan interface 27 on which setting means 28 are present for the devicelocated inside the interspace 5; in the example, these means 28 are aslider 29 slidable along the interface 27 which presents a plurality ofwindows 30, possibly retro-illuminated, on which symbols or otherelements are located to identify a particular temperature set in thecompartment portion overlying the shelf 1 when the slider 29 lies abovea particular window 30.

[0024] Each frame or frame portion 20 lying along each side of theelements 3 and 4 presents a shape which in cross-section resembles a C.This portion hence presents an intermediate part 32, vertical in thefigures, which connects together two end arms 33 and 34 each having,facing the other arm, a wall 35 in which a step 36 is provided. On thislatter there rests the edge 3A or 4A of the relative element 3 or 4 alsoprovided with a step 37 on which the corresponding end arm 33 and 34lies.

[0025] The frame hence embraces the elements 3 and 4 to close eachspacer 7.

[0026] A controlled atmosphere environment can be created within theinterspace 5 to ensure greater thermal insulation. To enable an inertgas to be fed into the interspace 5, a valving member 40 is located inthe spacer 7 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and is provided with through conduits41 so that when the shelf has been completed, tubes 42 can enter theinterspace to feed inert gas (for example nitrogen) into the interspaceand extract the air present therein. The member 40 is then sealed bycutting the tubes and closing them by hot deformation.

[0027] Moreover to ensure that the flat elements 3 and 4 do not collapseone onto the other when securing the frame 20 or when vacuum is created,one or more spacers 50 can be positioned in the interspace 5.

[0028] Finally, according to another variant of the invention, the flatelements 3 and 4 can be made concave, each with a bent lateral edge 60which faces and counteracts the bent edge 60 of the other element. Theelements 3 and 4 are fitted together at the free surfaces 61 or 62 ofthese edges, by means respectively of an annular recess 63 and anannular rib 64 which provide a form fit between the edges (FIG. 8). Theelements 3, 4 are then joined together in any known manner (gluing,ultrasonic bonding, etc.). Obtaining the shelf in this manner createsthe interspace 5 therein for the aforesaid purposes.

[0029] The edges 60 are also provided with a profiled perimetral portion66 facilitating the fixing of the moulded frame 20, which performs anaesthetic function and provides sealing for the flat elements 3 and 4.

We claim:
 1. A food support element, for removable insertion into arefrigeration compartment of a refrigerator having differentialtemperature zones, the temperature in the zone overlying the supportelement being set and controlled by a control device provided withsetting and control means associated with the element, wherein thesupport element comprises two elements positioned superposed, at leastthe upperly positioned element having a flat free surface, the elementsbeing maintained spaced apart by spacer means to define therebetween aninterspace for containing at least part of the known control device forthe refrigerator.
 2. A support element as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe superposed elements are flat elements.
 3. A support element asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer means are positioned between thesuperposed elements in correspondence with at least two of theiropposing edges.
 4. A support element as claimed in claim 1, wherein thespacer means are spacers each presenting a body provided with anintermediate portion and opposing end parts on which the superposedelements rest.
 5. A support element as claimed in claim 4, wherein theopposing ends of each spacer are flat.
 6. A support element as claimedin claim 4, wherein each spacer is an extruded body.
 7. A supportelement as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the intermediate portion ofeach spacer there is provided a recess for receiving electricalconnectors of the refrigerator control device.
 8. A support element asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the recess in the intermediate portion ofeach spacer is provided in a sidepiece of the portion which facesoutwards from the interspace within the support element.
 9. A supportelement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a central spacer is positionedbetween the superposed elements.
 10. A support element as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the superposed elements are secured to each other by atleast one perimetral frame piece positioned along the lateral edge ofthe support element.
 11. A support element as claimed in claim 1,wherein the spacer means are bent lateral edges of the superposedelements, these edges facing each other to define the interspace betweenthe fitted-together superposed elements.
 12. A support element asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the bent lateral edges are fitted togetherby a form fit.
 13. A support element as claimed in claim 12, wherein thebent edges are provided with a perimetral portion facilitating thefixing of the moulded frame.
 14. A support element as claimed in claim11, wherein the bent lateral edges of the superposed elements are bondedtogether.
 15. A support element as claimed in claim 1, wherein acontrolled atmosphere is present in the interspace.